Alexander to John Croft:

>If so, I expect you to demonstrate:
>1- archaeological cultures which can theoretically correspond to
>ALL Nostratic families. [...]
>2 - any Nostratic linguistic group or subgroup whose members remained
>hunter-gatherers. [...]

I can't help but notice, Alexander, that your demands are bizarre
and completely dyslogical. What don't you understand about the
spread of an innovation such as agriculture? The spread of
agriculture is seperate from the spread of people, the spread
of culture, the spread of language or the spread of Hepatitis C!
Each "spread" can move in different directions and speeds. Further,
the reason for their expansions can have completely different
motivations.

As for #2, it should be clear that whether a group continues to be
hunter-gatherers or not has absolutely no bearing on whether they
once were or not, just as our modern-day lack of bows and arrows
has no bearing on whether our ancestors once used them or not.

In all, your association of agriculture to the Nostratic language
is far off in left field. There won't be many people agreeing with
you on this one.


- love gLeN





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